54 extremely fun places to drink outside in the city
Enjoy the sun, not the line for an elevator
It’s the summer, and that means you want to be outside as much as you possibly can. And as long as you’re outside, you should be enjoying a sip, a tipple, a drink. A drink of alcohol, to be clear. Plenty of websites out there will tell you the best overpriced rooftop bars where you can have a couple drinks, but here at The New York Groove we know that the joys of having a drink out in the sun or the warm evening air is something you can experience in more spots than just the ones with a line for an elevator.
So with that in mind, we have for you our own list of the best bars, parks, boat rides and other spots to have a drink outside while you enjoy the season’s warmth, and it's for paying Groove members only. (Please understand, some of these spots, the parks especially, are places where you will need to brown bag it. You know how to do this and do it smartly). We weren’t content with just a list, so we’re actually got a whole map for you to consult while you’re out in the world. We also know this isn’t the be all and end all of the city’s outdoor drinking spots, so if your favorite place is missing please chime in and email us at tips@nygroove.nyc so we can update the map and make the guide as good as it can be.
MANHATTAN
The Panorama Room lives up to its name, with a big sweeping straight down the barrel of the East River, the 59th Street Bridge and the Roosevelt Island tram passing nearby. - Tim
Ellington in the Park, is a little eatery tucked into brick archways of Riverside Park, and the benches and elevated view of the Hudson make it an elite place to watch the sunset.
The Frying Pan, sure everyone’s after work happy hour goes there but you get to drink on a barge in the river while staring across the water at New Jersey and remembering why you don’t live there. - Tim
Island Oyster, the cocktail bar on the wharf on Governors Island, where you can drink a cocktail out of a shell while looking at Manhattan. - Tim
The cave in Central Park, sometimes someone is living in there, but if you can find it, it’s your own private grotto for the day. - Tim
